Brooder stove



June 23, 1936. J. R. HEATWOLE 2,045,356

` BRooDER-STOVE Filed July 25, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 1 'June 23, 1936. J.R. HEATW'QLE BROODER' STOVE Filed July 23, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented June Z3, 1936 Hmfl-snf1 Fries 2,045,356 BRooDER s'rovE .oh R..Heatwole, Winchester," Va., assigner to Snapp Foundry Inc., Winchester,Va.

Application July 23, 1935,'seria1 No. 32,790 I 4 claims. (C1. asse-6) Mypresent invention relates to improvements in brooder stoves, andparticularly to automatic means in combination with .a thermostat fo-rcontrolling the draft to the stove. In carrying out `5 my invention Iprovide a control device that is simple in construction, inexpensivecost of production, which maybe assembled with facility, and which maybeinstalled for use with facility.

The automatic control devicev is designed as an I auxiliary inconnection with van indirect draft,

to supplement,y orgto be substituted for the direct draft usuallyemp1oyedin the stove, and while the control device is adapted for usewith stoves burning ,various fuels, it is especially de- '15 signed for;use with wood-burning stoves. By the utilization of the device` ofgjmy,invention, after the fire has been started in the stove, thepredetermined heat or temperature `will automatically be maintained forrequired periods of ^20 time without necessity for attention.

The invention consists 'in certain novell cornbinations and arrangementsof parts as will 1 hereinafter be more fully set forth. In theaccompanying drawings I [have illustrated one T25 complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood 4that Ychanges are contemplated andmay be made in lthe exemplifyingstructure, within .the scope of my claims. Figure, 1 is a sectional Viewof a T30 brooder equipped with the device of my invention. Figure 2 is`a top plan view of the control device; Figure 3 is a detail sectionalview; and Figure 4 is a detail view of the thermostatr In order that thegeneral arrangement and re- 35 lation of parts may readily be understoodVI have shown in Figure 1 awell known type -otbrooder Vhaving thecentrally located stove I, whichis preferably fashioned of sheet metaldesired shape, either rectangular or cylindrical. The bot- LT1150 tom ofthe stove, as indicated at 2, is provided with a lining or base ofheat-insulating material of suitable nature, and if desired, the stovemay have feet F to slightly elevate it from agfloor to provide forcirculation of air under the stove and '45 protection to the flooragainst heat from the stove.

The cast metal top of the stove is provided with the usual chimney orsmoke pipe 3v and the outlet .port 4 theretocand a lid 5 is hinged tothe topat 6 to cover the hole through which fuel is '50 fed to thestove. Preferably the stove is of the wood-burning type, but it will beunderstoodthat fuel other than logs may be provided for combustion andheating purposes,. and a clean out door 'I is hinged to the side of thestove at a T55 suitable point near its base for removal of ashes,

.and for intake ofr air to aid combustion whenk starting the fire.

The canopy 8, which is preferably fashioned of vsheet metal, withysloping walls, extends around the stove as a hover for the chicks, andanupwardly and outwardly flaring guard wall, also of sheet metal, as 9, isalso attached to the stove,

near its base, to prevent the chicks from being crowded against theheated walls of the stove. Itgwill be understood that the stove andthello canopy may be fashioned of various materials, in different sizesand shapes, and the proportions of the different parts o-f the appliancemay be varied foruse under different conditi-ons of service.

-Y Near the base of the stove, and preferably 'ldiagonallyopposite tothe upper outlet hole or smoke port 4 of the stove-top I provide anintake port I El of substantially less area than the outlet hole tand onthe exterior of the stove A.wall I attach an elbow casting II whichopens through; the intake port to the interior of the stove. 'I'hecasting is kattached to the stove in suitable man- ,nerQ/as by means ofan attaching ilange I2and I screws I2 and the upper outer leg I3 ofthecasting is formed with a smooth horizontal top`25 edge which Aperformsthe functionsv of a valve seat in the control yof and admission yof airthrough the elbow to the interior` of the stove. j n The part I3, orvalve seat end of the casting I projects upwardly through the bottom ofa control drum It, the bottom I 5 of the drum being provided with acentral opening toI accommodate thepipe I3, and lock nuts It, I6 arethreaded on I the pipe I3, below and above the bottomv I5 to securelyretain thedrum on the pipe, and with edge of the pipe elevated slightlyabove ,thevbottom of the drum and the inner locking Vnut I6.

y `The drum, which is preferably fashioned of sheethmetal and ofcylindrical shape is located 40 exterior of and adjacent to the baseportion of the stove, and the removable top I1 of the drum fastenedthereto by screws I8 or bolts, is pro- 'vwith an annular series ofcircular holes .or openings I9, which, when open readily permit currentsof air to flow from the atmosphere to the interior of the drum, asindicated in the drawings.l When these openings or holes I9 are closed,Adraft or air or circulation of air currents to the interior of the drum,is of course cut off. 50

the central portion of the drum isr mounted,

loosely, a vertically disposed pin 20 having its opposite ends threaded,and this pin is of sufficient length to project at its lower end downinto the valve-seat mouth of thek pipe I3,V and.

at its upper end to project through a hole in the center of the top ofthe drum. A sheet metal disk as 2| having a center opening is looselymounted on the pin, within the drum, and this disk, which is adapted toseat on the top edge of the pipe I3, is of suicient area tosimultaneously close the ports or holes I9 in the top I1 of the drum.

When the disk-valve 2| is seated on the top of the pipe I3, the latteris effectually closed, except for a series of small auxiliary or idlingports 22 arranged around the center opening of the 1. disk-valve, andthese idling ports supply suicient air to support combustion in thestove to prevent accumulation of smo-ke or gases within the stove, whenthe draft thereto is cut off.

'Ihe disk valve 2|, with its central opening is loosely mounted on thepin 20, and it may be supported on the pin and prevented fromdisplacement by means of an adjusting nut 23 threaded on the lower endof the pin, beneath the disk valve.

On the upper threaded end of the pin, exterior of the drum anotheradjusting nut 24 is threaded, and these two' adjustable nuts on the pinare regulated to govern the movement of the disk valve between the underface of the top I1 of the drum, and the upper seat or top edge of thepipe I3.

The upper end of the threaded pin 20 passes through a slot 25 in thelo-ng arm of a lever 26, which lever extends outwardly from the stove,and is pivoted at 21 in a bracket 28, which bracket is attached at itsopposite ends, by screws to the drum I4 and to the overhanging portionof the canopy 8 and is located directly beneath the lever 26.

By means of the adjusting nut 24 that is located above the lever, andthe adjusting nut 23 that is located below the disk-valve 2|, the pinand the valve may be vertically adjusted with relation to the lever andthe ported top I1, as well as the valve-seat of the pipe I3, to assureaccuracy and efficiency in controlling the admission of air through thedrum and through the pipe I3 to the interior of the stove.

The control lever 26 is operated through the instrumentality of asuitable thermostat 29, here shown as of the well known wafer type,containing a suitable fluid or liquid that is expansible under heat tooperate the thermostat, and the latter is mounted at 30 on the bracket28 below the lever and spaced a suitable distance from the fulcrum 21 ofthe lever.

The lifting power or force of the thermostat, as it expands under heat,is applied to the lever through the use of a pin 3|, secured to thelever by the wing nut 32, and thevpin is fashioned with a round head 33that rests on and in contact at all times with the upper wall of thewafer or thermostat.

This thermostatic control device, preferably radiates from the stovebody outwardlyfrom the center of the brooder to the edge of the canopy,and a wire screen, or other guard 34 may be placed over the controldevice to prevent the chicks from roosting or perching onthe device.

The thermostat is set for a predetermined de:- gree of temperature, tocontrol the lever and the valve-disk mounted on the pin of the lever,and the normal position of the valve 2| may be adjusted to variousconditions. It will readily be Vapparent that as the thermostat expands,the

lever, or the free end of the long arm of the lever is lifted. until thefull force of the thermostat is employed to lift the disk valve againstthe underside of the top I1 and close the ports I9. When the heatradiated from the stove reaches this excessive degree of temperature,the intake of air for supporting combustion is cut 01T, en- 5 tirely,and inthe absence of flow of air to the interior of the stove causes areduction of the excessive heat until the temperature again falls to thepredetermined normal point. When the thermostat is contracted, the lever25, by gravity action, rests upon and is supported by the head 33 on thethermostat, and of course the fulcrum 21 also supports the lever, andthe diskvalve may be adjusted on its pin to close, o-r to partiallyclose, the inlet port of the pipe I3.

The auxiliary idling ports 22 of the disk valve are of such area as toprovide or admit only sufiicient air currents to the interior of thestove as to prevent extinguishing the iire, but to prevent a. roaringblaze or intense heat within the stove.

The use of the disk-valve within the interior of the drum, and below theinlet ports I9 of the drum, permits the valve to function with eitherthe perforated top of the drum or the intake 25 port of the pipe I3.Thus, through accident from any cause, should the thermostat fail tooperate, the lever falls by gravity, and the pin and valve fall with thelever, the latter automatically closing the pipe I3 except for theidling ports 22.130 Or,'should the expanded thermostat fail to contractfrom any cause, the lever may remain in uplifted position, but; thelever holds the diskvalve against the under side of the top of the drumto close the ports I9, thus preventingun- "235 controlled draft of airthrough the control device. If and when the lever falls, its fullmovement permits the valve disk to close the port of pipe I3.

Thus, the heat of the stove is automatically'llo controlled in areliable manner to maintain the predetermined temperature at which thethermo'- stat is set, and the combustion in the stove is .controlled bythe draft control device.

In starting a wood lre in the stove, it is pref-H45 erable to use thedirect draft through the open door 1, or in the event green wood issupplied to the stove as fuel, the direct draft is employed, to

Ainsure sufficient air to support combustion in the stove, and the smokeand products of combustion 50 'are carriedoif through the chimney orsmoke pipe 3.Y Y

After the re is properly started and combus- `tionis supported withinthe stove, the door 1 isl closed to shut oifthe direct draft, and thein- 55 Varound -the stove for the preservation of the chicks.

l The control device may be manufactured as a'65 part of thebrooder-stove, or it may be attached for use with brooders already inuse.l

Having thus fully described my invention, what -l claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters VPatent isz- 1. The combination with a stovehaving a draft inlet portV and an inlet pipe connected therewithhavingra valve-seat, of a control drum enclosing the valve Seat andhaving air inlet ports,

a valve located within the drum between the valve seat and the inletports, a valve stem reciprocable in the drum and supporting said valve,and a thermostatic control device adapted to reciprocate said stem andvalve for controlling the opening of the inlet ports, and said valveadapted to close the valve seat upon failure of the thermostatic controldevice to function.

2. In a thermostatic stove-draft control device, the combination with adrum having inlet and outlet ports in opposed Walls thereof, of areciprocable valve stem, a valve, and means for suspending the valve onsaid stem between the inlet ports and outlet port, an operating leverfor lifting the stem, and a thermostat for actuating said lever forcontrolling the opening of the inlet ports, and said valve adapted tosubstantially close the outlet port upon failure of the thermostat tofunction.

3. In a draft control device, the combination with a drum having a loweroutlet port and an upper inlet port, of a valve stem reciprocable in thedrum, a valve mounted on the stem between said ports and an adjustingnut on the stem supporting the valve, a second adjusting nut mounted onthe stem exterior of the drum, an operating lever having its free endloosely engaging the stem beneath the exterior nut, and a thermostat foroperating said lever and controlling the opening of the inlet ports, andsaid valve adapted to substantially close the outlet port upon failureof the thermostat to function.

4. In a draft control device, the combination with a drum having a loweroutlet port and an upper inlet port, of a disk-valve between said portsand provided with a central opening, a valve stem reciprocable in thedrum with its lower end passed through said opening, an adjusting nutthreaded 4on the stem below the valve, a second adjusting nut threadedon the upper end of the stem exterior of the drum, a pivoted operatinglever, said lever having a slotted end mounted on the stem between thedrum and the exterior nut, and a thermostat for operating the lever,whereby the valve is adapted to control the opening of the inlet portand also adapted to substantially close the outlet port upon failure ofthe thermostat to function.

JOI-IN R. HEATWOLE.

